Psalms 123:3

"Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD, our God, until he has mercy on us."

Key Reflection

In first-century Israel, the imagery of servants looking to their master's hand and maids to their mistress's hand was familiar, representing a posture of subservience and dependence. The original audience would have understood this as a humble plea for divine intervention, reflecting the trust placed in God’s sovereign authority and provision. Just as servants and maids look to their masters for direction and sustenance, so too do these psalmists turn to Yahweh, awaiting his mercy and salvation with profound faith and hope.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us -The language of earnest pleading, repeating with emphasis the object of the prayer. The supplicants are represented as standing and urging this petition, feeling that help could come only from God; looking only to him; and watching his countenance, as servants do their master’s. For we are exceedingly filled -The Hebrew word used here means to be saturated; to have the appetite fully satisfied - as applied to one who is hungry or thirsty. Then it comes to mean to be entirely full, and the idea here is, that as much contempt had been thrown upon them as could be; they could experience no more.

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